Mar 9, 2013 2 min read

After projected outfield starter Mario Yepez suffered a fractured ankle that will require at least four months of rehabilitation, the Wild Things traded for a power-hitting corner outfielder to fill the void.

Washington traded its first-round draft pick (5th overall) at the upcoming Frontier League tryout, along with a player to be named later, to the Gateway Grizzlies in exchange for outfielder Rogelio Noris.

Noris was third in the Frontier League in home runs (21) last season and sixth in RBI (74).

A native of Mexico, Noris, who will turn 24 this week, has played six professional seasons. He spent five of those in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and played two years with the West Virginia Power in the Class A South Atlantic League.

Noris signed with the Frontier League’s Lake Erie Crushers last spring and batted .250 with three home runs in 80 at-bats before being traded to Gateway. He became an impact player who helped the Grizzlies to the East Division title, batting .313 with 19 home runs in only 58 games.

Noris hit 15 home runs in 2010 with West Virginia, and the Pirates thought enough of him that they gave him more than 700 at-bats in Class A.

“This trade for Rogelio, a 23-year-old power hitter, will solidify the middle of our order.” said Wild Things coach Bart Zeller.